PRESS NOTE from Goans for Dabolim Only
Goans for Dabolim Only said that by now the Chief Minister and the Airports
Authority of India should have surely come to some consensus on the land
required for expansion of Dabolim airport facilities. It is shocking that
both the state government as well as the Central government’s AAI keep
passing the buck and blaming each other, even as the date for the
inauguration of the new terminal draws near without the requisite
infrastructure needed for its efficient functioning.
GFDO pointed out that the Chief Minister and his government have been
elected by the people of Goa to look after the interests of the state.
However, it is extremely sad and regrettable that this does not seem to be
happening. Dabolim Airport is a very precious state resource, which is
inextricably linked with the economy of Goa. The state’s economy is already
in the doldrums, to the extent that the Chief Minister has been compelled to
change his stand on casinos and openly admit that he is dependent upon
casino money to run the affairs of the state. The strangulation of Dabolim
Airport due to the infighting of these two public authorities will
indisputably break the backbone of the tourism industry, which is presently
the only source of revenue for the state.
Therefore, if as Mr. Parrikar has alleged, the AAI has failed to utilise the
precious land of the state already allotted to it, then it is incumbent upon
him as the Chief Minister and the Chief Trustee of the state’s resources, to
go beyond mere rhetoric and find ways and means to effectively nudge the AAI
into performing their functions efficiently and sincerely.
However, GFDO would like to remind the the Chief Minister that in his days
as Leader of the Opposition, he himself had gone on record to publicly
declare that the denotification of the 36,800 sq. metres of Survey No.8/1,
Dabolim, was an alleged scam perpetrated on the state by the then
government. It is only natural therefore, for the people to wonder why as
Chief Minister, he is now maintaining a studied silence and stoic inaction
on this vexed issue.
On behalf of the people of Goa, GFDO appeals to the Chief Minister to apply
due diligence in shepherding the precious resources of the state, and to
show some consistency in his stand on the denotification issue.
For GFDO
Fr. Eremito Rebello
Convenor
